Measuring an Economy in Transition With William Beach

The Baker Institute for Public Policy welcomes Dr. William Beach for an armchair dialogue with the director of the Center for Tax and Budget Policy, John Diamond, on the growing gap between how the U.S. economy functions and how it is measured. As labor markets evolve, demographic trends shift, and technology reshapes work at the task level, the nation’s statistical system is increasingly strained. Drawing on Dr. Beach’s previous leadership at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and his work on reforming federal and state statistical institutions, the conversation will examine why traditional labor market data, survey methods, and occupational classifications are struggling to capture the current economic reality, and why that matters.

The discussion will explore how weaknesses in economic data affect fiscal policymaking, budget analysis, and the long-term trajectory of U.S. public finances. As automation and artificial intelligence transform productivity and employment, and as population dynamics place new pressure on federal programs, policymakers require better, more timely data to design effective responses.

It is free and open to the public.

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